Apparatus for rapid launching of life-boats.



No. 795,937. PATENTED AUG. 1, 1905.

G. G. SCHMIDT. APPARATUS FOR RAPID LAUNGHING OF LIFE BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED 00'1'. 17,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED AUG. 1, 1905.

G. G. SCHMIDT. APPARATUS FOR RAPID LAUNGHING OF LIFE BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 17,1904.

, the ships side.

4 viewed from the left.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE CHRISTIAN SCHMIDT, OF GGTEBORG, SWEDEN.

APPARATUS FOR RAPID LAUNCHING OF LIFE-BOATS- Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1905 Application filed October 17, 1904. Serial No.228,888.

,tion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification.

This invention has for its object an arrangement for the rapid launchingof life-boats. Such an arrangement has long been needed in order tosecure the safety of the passengers and the crew in the event of anaccident at sea. The means and arrangements hitherto employed for thelaunching of life-boats require much labor,and, moreover, thelaunchingcannot be performed with the desirable speed.

This invention therefore has for its object to improve thesearrangements. so that the launching can be accomplished with a minimumof time and labor. Moreover, the special aim of this invention is tomake the arrangement as simple and cheap as possible, so that expensemay put no obstacle in the way of an extensive use of the same.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 represents the device as seen from above when the life-boat isswung out over Fig. 2 represents the device as seen from the right inFig. 1. shows the device in the position when the life-boat is hoistedup and secured to the supports, the figure representingasection on linea 7) of Fig. 1. Figs. 4 to 6 show details ona larger scale. Fig. 4 showsone davit partly in section and .a section of the davit-arm on line 0 (Zviewed from above. Fig. 5 shows a section of the same davit on line cfin Fig. Fig. 6 shows the outer end of a davit-arm 1 or2 viewed frombelow.

For each life-boat there are at the deck of the ship arranged two davitsprovided with arms 1 2, revoluble in vertical planes, which when theboat is being lowered carry the same over the ships side or when it israised carry it in over the deck. The davit-arms Fig. 3

1 2 are each connected with a sector-shaped or in other way curved piece3 or 4, rolling in a guide-groove or other support applied to thedavitstandard. In the upper end of each davit-standard there is a guide5 or 6, in which the davit-arm 1 or 2 moves. (See Fig. 1.) Thedavit-arms 1 2 thus by the rolling of the sector-shaped pieces 8 4 intheir grooves can be swung from a position in an upward direction (seeFig. 8) to a horizontal or outward-pointing direction, (see Fig. 2,) sothat the life-boat will be carried out over the ships side. In thedavit-standards ropes 20 21 are fastened by one end, (see Figs.

4 5,) one rope at each end of the guide-groove, ..the other ends 'ofwhich ropes are secured to the curved pieces 3 or 4 each on the oppositeside to where the former end is fastened. The pieces 34, therefore, areallowed to roll in their respective guide-grooves, but are preventedfrom sliding. The ropes 20 21 are placed in a groove in thesector-shaped piece 3 or 4, as shown in Fig. 5. Moreover, the ropes 2O21 are provided with tightening devices, so as to be stretched suitablytaut. At the outer end of each davit-arm 1 or 2-there is fastened ahoisting-rope7 or 8, running over a pulley 9, attached to a piece ofchain or the like, which has been secured to the boat in such a manneras to be readily removed. When the hoistingropes7 Shave been passedaround their respec tive pulleys 9, they are passed over pulleys at theouter ends of the davit-arms and then over pulleys at the top ends ofposts 10 11, rising from the davit-standards, and finally pass on todrums 12 13 on a shaft 14 mounted longitudinally to the ship. This shaftcan be revolved by means of the worm 16, connected with the crank-wheel15 and engaging with a worm'gear mounted on the shaft 14. Thus byturning the worm 16 to one side or the other the life-boat will belowered or raised from the position shown in Fig. 2. By the use of forks17 the davit-arms 1 2 will at the proper time be set in motion duringthe lowering and raising of the life-boat, so as to move either out overthe ships side or in over the deck. Such a fork 17 projects from eachdavit-arm 1 2 in such a way as to form between the fork 17 and thedavit-arm a crutch of suitable size to receive the pulley 9. When thelife-boat is being raised from the position shown in Fig. 2, thedavit-arms 1 2 will at first remain at rest, since the hoisting-ropesrun with two parts underneath the davit-arms, their ends being fastenedto said arms, so that a downward-turning movement results, while thepulleys 9 rise until they are finally carried into the crutches formedbetween the davit-armsl 2 and their forks 17. As the hoisting iscontinued the davit-arms will be made to take part in the movement, sothat the life-boat will be carried in over the ships deck. The life-boatis fastened to two blocks or supports 22 23, mounted on the deck by theaid of a revolubly-mounted eccentric 19, provided with the lever 18,flange 25, and lugs 27. When the life-boat is to be fastened to thesupports, the eccentric 19 should be previously revolved to a lowposition, so that the keel of the boat may be carried above or past theflange 25, but not the lugs 27. The eccentric 19 is subsequently turneduntil it has reached its highest position, as shown in the drawings, theboat being consequently raised by the eccentric 19, against which thekeel of the boat rests. As a result the upper edge of the boat will beforced upward into notches 24;, arranged at the upper part of thesupports 22 23, while the keel of the boat at the same time is clampedbetween the said supports or parts projecting therefrom and the flange25 of the eccentric 19. With the eccentric 19 is connected aratchet-wheel 26, (see Fig. 1,) with which engages a pawl, so as toarrest the eccentric 19 in any desired position.

In launching the boat is unfastened from the supports by simplyrevolving the eccentric 19 so as to bring it into a low position. Thelugs 27, arranged on the eccentric, will then act against the keel ofthe boat, so that the boat will be swung out from the supports 22 23 andremain hanging in the davit-arms 1 2. Owing to the blocks 9 resting inthe crutches formed between the forks 17 and the davitarms, thedavit-arms 1 2 as the lowering commences will be caused to turn intotheir outward position,(shown in Fig. 2,) and thus carry the boat outover the side of the ship. Any further movement of the davit-arms isprevented by the davit-standards. -In the continued lowering operationthe pulleys 9 will run out of the crutches of the 'davit-arms and theboat will be lowered vertically until it reaches the water. The chainsconnected with the pulleys 9 are thereupon unfastened from the boat forreleasing it.

I claim- 1. In a device for rapidly launching lifeboats, the combinationwith davit-arms 1, 2, adapted to oscillate in vertical planes, andprovided at their outer ends with hoistingropes 7, 8 secured thereto,each passing around a block 9 which is secured to and can be readilydetached from the life-boat, and then around blocks at the outer ends ofthe davitarms 1, 2, of forks 17 projecting from the outer ends of thedavit-arms 1, 2 and forming with the said davit-arms crutches, for thepurpose specified.

2. In a device for "rapidly launching lifeboats, the combination withdavit-arms 1, 2, adapted to oscillate in vertical planes, and providedat their outer ends with hoistingropes 7, 8secured thereto, eachpassingaround a block9 which is secured to and can be readily detachedfrom the life-boat, and then around blocks at the outer ends of thedavitarms 1, 2, of forks 17 projecting from the outer ends of thedavit-arms 1, 2 and forming with the said davit-arms crutches, and of asector-shaped or curved piece, 3 or 4:, united with each davit-arrn andadapted to roll on a support or in a guiding-groove, and tensionropes20, 21 secured by one end to the davitsupports, one at each end of theguide-groove, while the other ends of said ropes 20, 21 are attached tothe sector-shaped piece, 3 or 4, each on the opposite side to Where theformer end is fastened, for the purpose specified.

3. In a device for rapidly launching lifeboats, the combination withdavit-arms 1, 2, adapted to oscillate in vertical planes, and providedat their outer ends with hoistingropes 7, 8 secured thereto, eachpassing around a block 9 which is secured to and can be readily detachedfrom the lifeboat, and then around blocks at the outer ends of thedavitarms 1, 2, of forks 17 projecting from the outer ends of thedavit-arms 1, 2and forming with the said davit-arms crutches, and ofposts 10, 11, provided at their tops with pulleys, and two drums 12, 13arranged on a rotatable shaft 1 1, in common to both, for the purposespecified.

1. In a device for rapidly launching lifeboats, the combination withdavit-arms 1, 2, adapted to oscillate in vertical planes, and providedat their outer ends with hoistingropes 7, 8 secured thereto, eachpassing around a block 9 which is secured to and can be readily detachedfrom the life-boat, and then around blocks at the outer ends of thedavitarms 1, 2, of forks 17 projecting from the outer ends of thedavit-arms 1, 2 and forming with the said davit-arms crutches, and ofnotches 24 in brackets secured at the top of supports 22, 23, and arotatable eccentric 19 provided with a flange 25 and with a ratchetEGSngaging with a pawl, for the purpose speci- 5. In a device forrapidly launching lifeboats, the combination with davit-arms 1, 2,adapted to oscillate in vertical planes, and provided at their outerends with hoisting-ropes 7, 8 secured thereto, each passing around ablock 9 which is secured to and can be readily detached from thelife-boat, and then around blocks at the outer ends of the davit-arms 1,2, of forks 17 projecting from the outer ends of the davit-arms 1, 2 andforming with the said davit-arms crutches, and of a sectorshaped orcurved piece 3, or 4, united with each davit-arrn and adapted to roll ona support or in a guiding-groove, and tension-ropes 20, 21 secured byone end to the davit-supports, one at each end of the guide-groove,while the outer ends of said ropes 20, 21 are attached to thesector-shaped piece, 3 or 4,

7, 8 secured thereto, each passing around ablock 9 which is secured toand can be readily detached from the life-boat, and then around blocksat the outer ends of the davit-arms 1, 2, of forks 17 projecting fromthe outer ends of the davit-arms 1, 2 and forming with the saiddavit-arms crutches,and of a sector-shaped or curved piece 3 or 4,united with each davitarm and adapted to roll on a support or in aguiding-groove, and tension-ropes 20, 21 secured by one end to thedavit-supports, one at each end of the guide-groove, While the outerends of said ropes 20, 21 are attached to the sector-shaped piece, 3 or4, each on the opposite side to where the former end is fastened, and ofnotches 24 in brackets secured at the top of supports 22, 23, and arotatable eccentric 19 provided with a flange 25 and with a ratchet 26engaging with a pawl, for the purpose specified.

7. In a device for rapidly launching lifeboats, the combination withdavit-arms 1, 2, adapted to oscillate in vertical planes, and providedat their outer ends with hoisting-ropes 7. 8 secured thereto, eachpassing around a block 9 which is secured to and can be readily detachedfrom the life-boat, and then around blocks'at the outerends of thedavit-arms l, 2, of forks l7 projecting from the outer ends of thedavit-arms 1, 2 and forming with the said davit-arms crutches, and of asector-shaped or curved piece 3 or 4, united with each davitarm andadapted to roll on a support or in a guiding-groove, and tension-ropes20, 21 secured by one end to the davit-supports, one at each end of theguide-groove, while the other ends of said ropes 20, 21 are attached tothe sector-shaped piece, 3 or 4, each on the opposite side to where theformer is fastened, and of posts 10, 11, provided at the top withpulleys, and two drums 12, 13, mountedon a rotatable shaft 14 in commonto both, and of notches 24 in brackets secured at the top of GEORGECHRISTIAN SCHMIDT.

Witnesses:

CARL O. SAHLBERG, HARRY KARLsoN.

